What’s On in Lecce
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American/British Pop & Rock ┃ Folk ┃ Lecce (city only)┃ Free Entry Events
Staseera App
For daily events, you can also download the Staseera app (in Italian) (staseera means ‘tonight’ in Salento dialect)
Outdoor Sports
See the AICS site here for a list of sports events in the Lecce city marine area
Lecce in Scena
You can also find more events on the offical Lecce website here
La Fòcara di Novoli
Legendary local bonfire & firework display, with a free concert + plenty of street food & dancing.
Omaggio a Morricone (Tribute to Morricone)
Morricone won two Oscars, three Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, six BAFTAs, ten David di Donatello, eleven Nastri d'Argento, two European Film Awards, a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and a Polar Music Prize, as well as selling more than 70 million records worldwide.
The show contains reworkings of his most famous songs including from "Once Upon a Time in the West", "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", "Giù la testa"),"Mission", "Malena", "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso", as well as hit song "Se Telefonando" (performed by famous Italian singer Mina) and “Here's to you” (sung by Joan Baez)…
Alba dei Popoli (Dawn of the People)
Large free outdoor concert & firework display in the small city of Otranto on the Adriatic coast.
Since its first edition in 1999, the event has hosted many famous Italian and International names including Lou Reed, Pino Daniele, Goran Bregovic, Franco Battiato, Eugenio Bennato, Edoardo Bennato, Vinicio Capossela, Nicola Piovani, Mario Biondi, Roy Paci; directors including Ferzan Ozpetek, Emir Kusturica, Manuel Pradal; as well as a long series of institutional representatives of Mediterranean countries.
Romeo & Juliet
Italian version of the famous Shakespeare Story, by the Balletto di Roma.
Lu Paniri te e Site (Palmariggi)
Described as ‘La Festa delle Melagrane’ (The Pomergrante Festival), expect 3 days of delicous street food (much of which will involve pomegrantes), as well as live music & dancing.
Friday 6th - FREE CONCERT Consuelo Alfieri is an important folk singer from Salento and one of the voices of the world famous Notte delle Taranta.
La Notte della Taranta
Legendary local festival (of Glastonbury status in Italy), televised on Rai (Italian state broadcaster, like the BBC) held in the small town of Melpignano (about 25 mins drive south of Lecce).
Free entry, extremely busy (expect a crowd in the tens of thousands) but unmissable event for any serious muso.
Special all night train service usually runs from Lecce to Melpignano.
Festa di Sant’Oronzo (Lecce)
Festa di Sant’Oronzo - 3 day religious and cultural festival for the patron saint of Lecce.
CONCERTS Piazza Libertini (Lecce, 73100)
25th August: Enzo Petrachi & Folkorchestra
26th August: Giuliano Palma
THEATRE Villa Comunale (Lecce, 73100)
25th August 8.30 pm Theatrical review in Lecce dialect: The Lu Curtigghiu theater company presents "L'aria del Settentrione" by William Fiorentino.
26th August 8.30 pm Theatrical review in Lecce dialect: The Mario Perrotta senior theater company presents "Fane bene e pensanci" by Paolo Stanca
La Notte Bianca di Specchia
La Notte Bianca a Specchia - Classic Salento night of festivities with locally produced food, wine and lots of live music. Large programme of childrens events in the early evening, followed by local folk dancing and full concert.
One of the principle events of the summer calendar in Salento.
MAIN CONCERT
Alex Britti - Italian soft rock singer from Rome
New York Ska Jazz Ensemble
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, originally from New York, formed in 1994. Jazz, ska and reggae, plenty of improvisation and rock'n'roll. NYSJE started as a side project of the ska group The Toasters and now includes members of The Toasters, Skatalites and Scofflaws.
Goran Bregović is a recording artist from Bosnia and Herzegovina who has performed at major international venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and L'Olympia.
Black Eyed Peas
OVERSOUND MUSIC FESTIVAL
Large pop music festival spread over 5 cities in Puglia/Salento throughout July/August.
Noughties hip hop legends Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo will be in town with the full Black Eyed Peas crew as headlining act for Lecce’s pala live stage on Aug 13th 9.30pm (but see official website for many more artists).
Birra e Sound
Birra e Sound - Massive beer festival with over 100 types of beer, mostly produced in Salento. More on their official website including full programme.
FREE ENTRY / UNTICKETED
Live Music
Shame
SEI FESTIVAL DAY 1, 2, 3
Shame are an English post-punk band originally from South London.
Calibro 35 is a cinematic funk Italian band formed in 2007 in Milan.
Cristiano Crisci, commonly known by stage name Clap! Clap!, is an Italian producer and DJ. He is a long time jazz musician and previously worked under the alias Digi G'Alessio
Thurston Moore Group
Legendary front man of 80’s/90’s NYC noise rock heros Sonic Youth, Thurston Moore (American guitarist, singer and songwriter) now tours with his own solo group.
Classiche Forme (International Chamber Music Festival)
World famous classical musicians including Stephen Waarts, Ludovica Rana, Mario Brunello, Giovanni Sollima, Marmen String Quartet, The Teyber Trio, Emmanuel Pahud, Tim Crawford, Tim Posner, Timothy Ridout, Domenico Turi, Maja Avramovič, Chiara Osella, Massimo Spada, Rosa Feola, Giuseppe Russo Rossi, Giorgio Magistroni, Francesco Muraca, I virtuosi di Sansevero, Piccotti-Ciampa duo, Tharsos trio, Sabatini-Rugani duo perform at this prestigious festival curated by Beatrice Rana. Broadcast live nationally on Italian Classical Radio.
Festa di San Pietro e Paolo (Galatina)
Firework display, fairground rides, market stalls, local food, folk dancing (pizzica). Throughout the town expect hundreds of festival lights and local artists to open their doors and display various paintings and sculptures.
Musical bands of Sogliano and Zollino will alternate, Squinzano directed by maestro Giuseppe Gregucci and Manduria directed by maestro Paola Vizzi. (Piazza San Pietro)
Monday 28th: Pizzica groups will perform including Manekà, Nui nisciunu, Vento del Sud and Cardisanti (Piazza San Pietro)
Tuesday 29th: ‘Grandiose fireworks competition which lights up the sky of Galatina every year with varied shapes and colours’
Wednesday 30th: 21:30 Republika Mod, Rita Forte (Piazza Alighieri)
La Notte Della Taranta, Melpignano (Rai TV)
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 22 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here
La Notte Della Taranta, Martano
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 21 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here
La Notte Della Taranta, Sternatia
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 20 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here
Festa di Sant’Oronzo
Festa di Sant’Oronzo - 3 day religious and cultural festival for the patron saint of Lecce.
Religious Stuff
24 August 7pm Piazza del Duomo - Prayer led by Archbishop Seccia followed by the main procession (that will kick off the three days of celebrations) through the streets of the centre of Lecce. Archbishop Seccia will also deliver a message to the city at the end.
25th August - Mass in the cathedral at 7pm
26th August - Mass in the cathedral at 7pm
Other Stuff
The festival lights will be on for all 3 days and throughout the centre of Lecce you’ll find lots of stall holders selling their goods, as well as fireworks mostly likely on the evening of the 26th.
La Notte Della Taranta, Soleto
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 19 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here
La Notte Della Taranta, Martignano
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 18 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here
La Notte Della Taranta, Calimera
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 17 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here
La Notte Della Taranta, Cutrofiano
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 16 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here
La Notte Della Taranta, Castrignano de’Greci
As far as I know, unticketed and a free entry event
EVENT 15 of 22
La Notte Della Taranta - is a household name to anyone in Puglia (and much of Italy). An unmissable celebration of classic salentini folk music and dance (the pizzica).
About
Although the old days of the big stage with massive festival lights and classic pizzica (youtube La Notte Della Taranta from 2018 or before) have given way to a modern era of overproduced, TV-orientated, crass-fusion-pop mush; La Notte Della Taranta is still an absolute mainstay of the summer calendar in Salento. If you’re staying in or around Lecce in August and you like music you should definitely go to one of these dates. Don’t miss judge this as some kind of oldy woldy boring folk event…if you have a few glasses of local wine and get in the crowd you’ll have a lot of fun.
This now 25 year old festival has grown organically into the biggest event in the Salento folk calendar. Much like Glastonbury in the UK its been through never ending meddlings/reincarnations (especially to cater to the TV audience), but the core backbone of local musicians and dancers who are there every year are so talented/enthusiastic that it always delivers a memorable night of music.
The main ‘Concertone’ (Big Concert) is on the 27th August in the village of Melpigano (also televised on Rai), but the show now tours a further 21 towns/vilages across Salento in the weeks prior.
Find out more here